If The Mouth Has Black - Put It Back!

Idaho steelhead anglers are savvy at fish identification, but with fall-run Chinook and coho salmon in area rivers this fall, anglers are encouraged to sharpen their skills even more.

Several fall Chinook were caught and illegally kept by anglers last week said Larry Barrett, fisheries biologist for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

"There will be some adipose fin clipped fall Chinook and coho salmon in the Snake and Clearwater Rivers this fall, but there is no open season for these fish, and they must be released immediately," he said.

The easiest way to distinguish a salmon from a steelhead is by checking the mouth. If there is any black in the mouth, it's a salmon, and it must be released unharmed.

"If the mouth has black - put it back," Barrett said.

Coho can be differentiated from Chinook by the color of the gum line. Though both have black tongues, coho have white gum lines while Chinook gum lines will be all black.

Anglers are encouraged to review page 19 of the 2006-2007 Idaho Fishing Seasons and Rules booklet for color illustrations and identification tips.